A new brewery and restaurant could be coming to the Brooklyn neighborhood.
Developers will present a conceptual design for the project to the Downtown Development Review Board at its meeting this afternoon.
“The Dora Block” includes the redevelopment of an 8,566-square-foot vacant church built in 1955, along with construction of a 5,000-square-foot restaurant with on- and off-site parking.
Bedopas LLC owns the land between 301 and 311 Spruce St. and 310 Chelsea St.
Jacksonville-based North Platt LLC is listed as the title manager of Bedopas, and through Contega Business Services LLC, has obtained about 11 acres in the neighborhood through acquisition groups.
GGI LLC, also known as Genesis Group, is the civil engineer and Cronk Duch Architecture LLC is the architect.
Landwise Design Inc. is the landscape architect and Urban Partners Construction LLC is the general contractor.
According to the DDRB application, Bedopas plans to renovate the church into a brewery and beer garden, with outdoor space and on-site beer production, while maintaining the original structure.
Renderings for the brewery show space for about 150 seats in the beer garden, a cold storage room, delivery area, brew process hall, canning room, brewing area, two restrooms and space for outside games.
The restaurant could seat up to 224 customers. Renderings show a main dining room, kitchen and a 550-square-foot patio that wraps around half of the building.
The project will need three deviations from the DDRB to address changes to the required number of parking spaces and to streetscape and landscape design criteria.
The project also will need to secure development rights from the Downtown Investment Authority before the DDRB will approve the final design.
Finally, to receive a certificate of occupancy for the brewery, the project will need a Waiver of Liquor Distance from the city.
The DDRB is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. today at City Hall.
Lamping: City, Jags share interests
Jacksonville Jaguars President Mark Lamping described the relationship between the Jaguars and the city as positive as their development goals and interests continue to remain aligned.
Lamping participated Monday on “Policy Matters,” a quarterly radio show on WJCT hosted by Rick Mullaney, director of Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute.
Lamping reiterated what’s good for the Jaguars is good for the city and vice versa, referring primarily to developing the sports and entertainment complex.
“While the city isn’t really focused on how (Downtown development) affects the Jaguars, they are focused on what’s best for the interests of the taxpayers and the city of Jacksonville,” he told Mullaney.
“And I think there is certainly consensus that having a strong, vibrant Downtown is also in the interest of the entire community,” he said.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan and the city have partnered on more than $300 million in upgrades to the city-owned EverBank Field.
The groups recently took on a $90 million project that resulted in the 6,000-seat Daily’s Place amphitheater and an attached covered practice facility for the team.
Lamping said the Jaguars have spent roughly $170 million so far, splitting the renovation costs with the city.
He said renovations to the stadium were “absolutely critical” for the long-term viability of the team in Jacksonville as newer stadiums are being built for teams throughout the National Football League.
“If the option would have been the improvements not happening, that would not have been in the best interest of the Jaguars or ultimately in the best interests of the city,” he said.
Lamping said the riverfront development is moving forward, but the final design will depend on factors that include whether the city can demolish exit ramps from the Hart Bridge that bisect the sports complex and the riverfront property.
He said if they remain, the project still will be pursued.
“If they come down, the development potential increases exponentially and you can expect a much better product,” he said.